Leaning flagstick on shoulder whilst putting out.

[user2010]

During a comp the other week, a fellow competitor(A) had left himself a tap in of 5-10 inches after coming up just short from a lengthy first putt and decided to putt out, so promptly rested the flagstick against his shoulder and the end of the flag resting on the green a foot or so from the hole to finish off so he could then attend the flag for another FC(B), who was again a good distance away and asked for the flag to be tended.
After we all putted out an argument broke out between A & B, with B saying A couldn`t do that because he was anchoring/steadying himself against the flagstick when he tapped in.
I said he (A) was ok to do that, but (B) was adamant it was a breach of Rule 17-1/5.
I`ve looked at 17-1/5 and that just says "holding the flag with one hand and putting with other hand" is permitted, nothing is mentioned for what (A) did.


So did he breach the Rule or not?

 

[rulefan]

As he was not using it as a support, no.

 

[user2010]

Cheers, thank you.:thup:

 

[rulefan]

I meant to include this link

http://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-decisions.html#!decision-14,d14-3-9

 

[Region3]

It seems strange that B knew that you couldn't use the flagstick to steady yourself, but thought leaning it on his shoulder would stop him from losing balance or falling over.

Nowt as strange as folk.